Nearly a quarter of landlords based in the East Midlands – 24 per cent – plan to add to their property portfolios in the next 12 months, research commissioned by Paragon shows.

The research shows that the West Midlands too will see high activity in the buy-to-let market this year, with 22 per cent of landlords in that area also planning to increase their holdings over the next 12 months.

In the North East and Yorkshire and Humber areas, meanwhile, 19 per cent of landlords answered yes to this question.

Landlords in the South West and central London are the least likely to add to their portfolios, with 8 per cent and 9 per cent answering in the affirmative, respectively.

The amount of properties already owned seems to be another indicator too, with just 8 per cent of landlords with one property planning to purchase more in the next 12 months versus 20 per cent of those with 20 or more already on their books.

Paragon managing director of mortgages Richard Rowntree says: “The proportion of landlords looking to purchase new property has been largely consistent over the past two years, but we are seeing regional variations and also a greater propensity for portfolio landlords to invest in property.”